Pack & Send making the most of explosive growth in online purchasing

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'All our stores are up around 20% in sales in the last 5 months compared to this time last year'

Pack & Send is a great example of the right business at the right time. Launched here in 2008, the franchise initially specialised in sending Fragile, Large, Awkward or Valuable (FLAV) items around New Zealand and overseas. Its growing reputation in this sector enabled it to move smoothly into other freight categories requiring top quality service.

Today, growing demand and strong marketing mean more opportunities than ever for new franchisees. ‘Many people and businesses hate packing and are concerned about safety and security, especially with sensitive items such as IT equipment,’ says NZ franchisor Matthew Everest. ‘They know we have the experience to handle those safely so they trust us with their goods – and they keep coming back!’

Online purchasing is one of the factors which continues to drive explosive revenue growth for Pack & Send franchisees. ‘All our stores are up around 20 percent in sales in the last five months compared to this time last year,’ Matthew says, ‘and we plan to build on that by leveraging the internet to reduce costs and increase productivity and revenue for all franchisees. In Australia, where the franchise started 24 years ago, a new online booking system has generated an extra $3 million turnover on top of ordinary sales.

‘Most of that has come from the small, pre-packed domestic parcels that customers would normally take to the post office, so we’ll be launching it here in early 2018. Book and Pay allows customers to send or receive parcels from the comfort of their own homes and provides an additional revenue stream for franchisees. It offers same-day collection by courier if that is the customer’s choice, but in practice we’ve found many still prefer to drop off their parcels at our outlets.’

The smart use of technology is key to Pack & Send’s continued success. ‘For example, most couriers have their own platform for internal use, so Pack & Send has developed one that integrates with any system used by any courier company,’ Matthew explains. ‘It means pricing, tracking, bar coding and consignments can be read commonly, providing real-time information on any item that a client is concerned about. For franchisees, it also offers easier pricing, simpler consigning and reduced data entry costs, as well as better customer service.

‘Ultimately we wish to become top of mind in the freight sector for both the public and businesses,’ says Matthew. ‘A high-ranking website drives lead generation for franchisees and we have a dedicated national marketing manager pushing our quarterly national campaigns. An intranet portal provides easy access to marketing info and collateral to support local area marketing. Joint media buying power and an active social media presence have driven our reputation further up the scale, which in turn has led to excellent online reviews and customer testimonials.’

All this demand means Pack & Send are looking for new franchisees in many parts of the country. ‘We urgently need outlets in Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Rotorua and several parts of Auckland, so the opportunity is there right now,’ Matthew says.

‘You don’t need freight industry experience, but you do need to combine a strong entrepreneurial streak with attention to detail. For that reason, the franchise especially suits couples: currently half our franchises are husband-and-wife teams, while the remainder are entrepreneurs with one or two staff.

‘The Pack & Send package is $210,000 +gst for a full turnkey operation. Everything is included in the price from finding your premises to training, initial stock, marketing, fit-out and working capital.

‘With the roll-out of our new software and Book and Pay system, new franchisees really will get the best of both worlds – a bricks and mortar destination as well as an online store dedicated to customers’ immediate needs. It’s all part of our first choice strategy, which makes Pack & Send first choice for franchise buyers, too. Contact us and find out more.’